Athletes, coaches urged to take the #TTpledge

Published in the August 31, 2016 editionTaylor-Twellman-mug.200kb-web

BOSTON — Former New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) will team up for the second annual Concussion Awareness Week September 12–16.

The week-long concussion education and awareness program is being spearheaded by Twellman, the Major League Soccer All-Star who created the nonprofit foundation ThinkTaylor after being forced to retire from professional soccer in 2010 due to complications from the multiple concussions he had suffered as a player.

In 2008, Twellman suffered a concussion that many believe ended his storied career. As he later realized, this brain injury was far more than a career-ending injury; rather, it was a life-changing event. Based on his own experiences living with a brain injury, Twellman has dedicated himself to leading this social change movement as an advocate for concussion safety.

ThinkTaylor offers a positive message emphasizing awareness, recognition, education and putting the health of kids first with a goal of creating a safer, healthier and smarter environment in which young athletes will thrive.

This year, ThinkTaylor and the MIAA have partnered with the Concussion Legacy Foundation and the Massachusetts Concussion Management Coalition (MCMC) to bring this program to over 86,000 student–athletes who participate on a variety of high school sports teams throughout the state.

Athletes will be provided with ThinkTaylor wrist bands and concussion awareness (#TTpledge) bag tags to remind themselves and others about the dangers of not reporting a concussion.

The ThinkTaylor team will host Concussion Awareness Night during the New England Revolution vs. Colorado Rapids game at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 3. The Revs will also honor Twellman, who played eight seasons with the team (2002-09) and recorded 101 goals and 28 assists while helping to lead the team to the MLS Cup in ‘05, ‘06 and ‘07.

“It is imperative we educate athletes, parents, coaches and athletic directors about concussion education and awareness, along with traumatic brain injuries that can happen as a result, at the youth level,” Twellman said.

“We launched Concussion Awareness Week last year with the MIAA for that very reason. Through our partnership with them, and help from the Concussion Legacy Foundation and MCMC this year, we’ve been able to expand on last year’s inaugural efforts and impact more and more students throughout the state of Massachusetts to hold each other accountable in observing the established concussion protocol,” added Twellman, who is currently the lead soccer analyst for ESPN.

The Concussion Legacy Foundation will host Team Up Day, which is an educational program designed to help better identify concussions by encouraging athletes to “Team Up: Speak Up” to fight concussions.

During Concussion Awareness Week, coaches across the country have pledged that they will give their team a speech on Tuesday, Sept. 13 emphasizing that teammates look out for one another, and that they should speak up if they see a teammate who may have suffered a concussion.

Know the signs

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, stretching and damaging the brain cells and creating chemical changes in the brain.

Medical providers may describe a concussion as a “mild” brain injury because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, the effects of a concussion can be serious.

Children and teens who show or report one or more of the signs and symptoms listed below, or who simply say they just “don’t feel right” after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, may have a concussion or a more serious brain injury.

Concussion signs observed by others may included the following:

• Can’t recall events prior to or after a hit or fall.

• Appears dazed or stunned.

• Forgets an instruction, is confused about an assignment or position, or is unsure of the game, score or opponent.

• Moves clumsily.

• Answers questions slowly.

• Loses consciousness (even briefly).

• Shows mood, behavior or personality changes.

Concussion symptoms reported may include the following:

• Headache or “pressure” in head.

• Nausea or vomiting.

• Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision.

• Bothered by light or noise.

• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy or groggy.

• Confusion, or problems with concentration or memory

• Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down.”

These signs and symptoms generally show up soon after the injury. However, the athlete, coaches, teammates or family members may not know how serious the injury is at first and some symptoms may not show up for hours or days.

For example, in the first few minutes after an injury, an athlete might be a little confused or a bit dazed, but an hour later the athlete might not be able to remember how he or she got hurt.

The CDC recommends caregivers continue to check for signs of concussion right after the injury and a few days after the injury. If the athlete’s concussion signs or symptoms get worse, take him or her to the emergency department immediately.

Recovery requires rest

The Concussion Legacy Foundation believes the only way to fully recover from a concussion is through rest and a concussion recovery plan provided by the athlete’s doctor. The Foundation promotes the message that toughness is proven by sticking to the recovery plan, not rushing the athlete back into play.

Depending on the severity of the injury, the recovery plan may include a “return to play protocol” to gradually re-introduce the athlete to activity. If so, share the plan with coaches, family members and friends who should be prepared to provide encouragement to the athlete to stick to the plan because recovery can be a long and frustrating process.

“The MIAA is once again pleased to partner with ThinkTaylor to help educate and inform all student–athletes about concussions,” said MIAA Associate Executive Director Richard Pearson.

“The ThinkTaylor/MIAA Concussion Awareness Week is an outstanding vehicle to bring focused attention to this very important topic. The #TTPledge focusing on students being educated, honest and supportive is a profound and pointed objective for all,” Pearson added.

Public invited to take pledge

ThinkTaylor is also seeking the support of the public at large, not just high school student–athletes, to take the #TTpledge online at thinktaylor.org. Those who take the pledge are being asked by the organizers to post photos and videos online showing their support and pledging to be educated on the signs and symptoms of concussions; pledging to be honest with their coaches, teachers, parents and teammates when experiencing signs or symptoms of concussions; and pledging to be supportive of anyone who gets a concussion.

Additional sponsors of Concussion Awareness Week 2016 include the Robert C. Cantu Concussion Center at Emerson Hospital, New England Revolution, Bag Tags, Gauntlet Films, DCU, FOX25 and Gatorade.

About Concussion Legacy Foundation:
The Concussion Legacy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in Boston in 2007 by Robert Cantu, M.D., and Christopher Nowinski to solve the concussion crisis by advancing the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups. It is a collaborator with Boston University’s CTE Program.  For more information, visit ConcussionFoundation.org. For more information about Team Up Day, visit TeamUpDay.org.

About MCMC

The Massachusetts Concussion Management Coalition (MCMC) is comprised of a broad range of groups dedicated to the health and safety of students.  Members include the MIAA, Massachusetts School Nurse Organization (MSNO), Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts (ATOM), state Department of Public Health (DPH), Brain Injury Center of Boston Children’s Hospital, and the NHL Alumni Foundation. Its top priority it is to prevent and manage concussions. MCMC is a pioneer in concussion research and education outreach. For more information on its program or how to get involved, visit: www.massconcussion.org.

About MIAA
The mission of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) is to serve member schools and the maximum number of their students by providing leadership and support for the conduct of interscholastic athletes, with the goal of enriching the educational experiences of all participants. For more information, visit www.miaa.net.